Repertoires of Domination: Decentralization as Process in Botswana and Senegal

Amy R. Poteete; Jesse C. Ribot

doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2010.09.013

Repertoires of Domination: Decentralization as Process in Botswana and Senegal

Amy R. Poteete, Jesse C. Ribot

Geography and Geographic Information Science

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Decentralization promises to empower local actors, but threatens others with a loss of power. We describe " repertoires of domination" as the set of acts actors perform to defend-or entrench and expand-their positions. We illustrate, through case studies of decentralization in natural resource sectors in Botswana and Senegal, how repertoires of domination prevent local-level democratization. The concept of repertoire brings attention to the availability of multiple, substitutable acts of domination that draw upon varied sources of power. Neither decentralization nor democratization can be achieved once and for all. These processes are both advanced and halted through acts of contestation.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	439-449
Number of pages	11
Journal	World Development
Volume	39
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2010.09.013
State	Published - Mar 2011

Keywords

Africa
Botswana
Decentralization
Democratization
Domination
Natural resource management
Senegal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geography, Planning and Development
Development
Sociology and Political Science
Economics and Econometrics

Online availability

10.1016/j.worlddev.2010.09.013

Library availability

Discover UIUC Full Text

Cite this

@article{6fbc82ba2b424e1fae1b029f08e6d410,

title = "Repertoires of Domination: Decentralization as Process in Botswana and Senegal",

abstract = "Decentralization promises to empower local actors, but threatens others with a loss of power. We describe {"} repertoires of domination{"} as the set of acts actors perform to defend-or entrench and expand-their positions. We illustrate, through case studies of decentralization in natural resource sectors in Botswana and Senegal, how repertoires of domination prevent local-level democratization. The concept of repertoire brings attention to the availability of multiple, substitutable acts of domination that draw upon varied sources of power. Neither decentralization nor democratization can be achieved once and for all. These processes are both advanced and halted through acts of contestation.",

keywords = "Africa, Botswana, Decentralization, Democratization, Domination, Natural resource management, Senegal",

author = "Poteete, {Amy R.} and Ribot, {Jesse C.}",

note = "Funding Information: We have benefitted from thoughtful comments from Catherine Boone, John Harbeson, Sandra Joireman, Staffan Lindberg, Aurelien Mauxion, Innocent Ndahiriwe, Andrea Nightingale, Hemant Ojha, Leander Schneider, Thomas Sikor, and Peter von Doepp, as well as enriching exchanges during the Workshop on the Workshop IV at Indiana University in June 2009. Thanks for the Government of Botswana{\textquoteright}s permission to conduct research in the Botswana; financial support from the Fulbright Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, and the University of New Orleans; institutional support from the University of Botswana, and help from respondents and friends in Botswana. Sincere thanks to the Dutch Royal Embassy in Dakar, in particular Franke Toornstra, for supporting the research behind the Senegal case study.",

year = "2011",

month = mar,

doi = "10.1016/j.worlddev.2010.09.013",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "39",

pages = "439--449",

journal = "World Development",

issn = "0305-750X",

publisher = "Elsevier BV",

number = "3",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Repertoires of Domination

T2 - Decentralization as Process in Botswana and Senegal

AU - Poteete, Amy R.

AU - Ribot, Jesse C.

N1 - Funding Information: We have benefitted from thoughtful comments from Catherine Boone, John Harbeson, Sandra Joireman, Staffan Lindberg, Aurelien Mauxion, Innocent Ndahiriwe, Andrea Nightingale, Hemant Ojha, Leander Schneider, Thomas Sikor, and Peter von Doepp, as well as enriching exchanges during the Workshop on the Workshop IV at Indiana University in June 2009. Thanks for the Government of Botswana’s permission to conduct research in the Botswana; financial support from the Fulbright Foundation, the Social Science Research Council, and the University of New Orleans; institutional support from the University of Botswana, and help from respondents and friends in Botswana. Sincere thanks to the Dutch Royal Embassy in Dakar, in particular Franke Toornstra, for supporting the research behind the Senegal case study.

PY - 2011/3

Y1 - 2011/3

N2 - Decentralization promises to empower local actors, but threatens others with a loss of power. We describe " repertoires of domination" as the set of acts actors perform to defend-or entrench and expand-their positions. We illustrate, through case studies of decentralization in natural resource sectors in Botswana and Senegal, how repertoires of domination prevent local-level democratization. The concept of repertoire brings attention to the availability of multiple, substitutable acts of domination that draw upon varied sources of power. Neither decentralization nor democratization can be achieved once and for all. These processes are both advanced and halted through acts of contestation.

AB - Decentralization promises to empower local actors, but threatens others with a loss of power. We describe " repertoires of domination" as the set of acts actors perform to defend-or entrench and expand-their positions. We illustrate, through case studies of decentralization in natural resource sectors in Botswana and Senegal, how repertoires of domination prevent local-level democratization. The concept of repertoire brings attention to the availability of multiple, substitutable acts of domination that draw upon varied sources of power. Neither decentralization nor democratization can be achieved once and for all. These processes are both advanced and halted through acts of contestation.

KW - Africa

KW - Botswana

KW - Decentralization

KW - Democratization

KW - Domination

KW - Natural resource management

KW - Senegal

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79551470953&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79551470953&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.worlddev.2010.09.013

DO - 10.1016/j.worlddev.2010.09.013

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:79551470953

SN - 0305-750X

VL - 39

SP - 439

EP - 449

JO - World Development

JF - World Development

IS - 3

ER -

Repertoires of Domination: Decentralization as Process in Botswana and Senegal

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Online availability

Library availability

Related links

Fingerprint

Cite this